Unit 3 Schools and UniversitiesThinking AheadStudents are asked to discuss the following questions in groups. The reference answers for the questions are offered below:1. Do you like your university? Describe your dream university.Well, I love it. It is awesome! I’ve never had so much fun or learned so much about a topic, or most importantly, learned so much about myself. I’ve met so many great and diverse people and been in situations that I never thought I’d ever be in. I would not trade my years at the university for anything.My dream university is the one where I can breathe the cool air and chat with my easy-going friends about our common interest freely. The beautiful campus with a lake and extensive parkland greenery is a must. Moreover, I dreamed of joining numerous student clubs and other organizations which demonstrate the breadth of student interests in academic and career areas, social issues, athletics and much more. In my opinion, studying in a university is an experience that goes far beyond lectures, and the academic life should be dynamic and vibrant（生气勃勃的）.2. How do you make use of the facilities and resources in your university?My university boasts numerous facilities including library, gym, pub, etc, among which the library and gym are the two which I make full use of. As for me, study is still the priority. The library facility includes traditional reading areas where silence is the rule; there, it is less likely to be distracted by the noise outside. There are also areas designated for group study where you can communicate and interact with your colleagues for group projects. Also, the enormous collections of the books help to broaden my horizon and the library staff provide us with the effective Internet searching strategy, which enables me to study independently.Moreover, being in good physical health is critical to maintaining good academic standing as well as quality of life. The campus gym offers enormous facility with spaces and programs for students at all levels of physical skill and activity. I go to gym three times a week to get good workout. It helps me to relax and release the stress, and concentrate easily on my academic study. Part I Video TimeIn this part, students will have 2 tasks to accomplish.Task 1In task 1, students will watch a video clip about the University of Oxford, one of the leading universities in the world, and then do the exercises as required. Before watching, students are supposed to read the words, expressions and cultural notes related to the video.TranscriptThe University of OxfordOxford is the oldest university in the English-speaking world, a city that lives and breathes education, a place where you can think rigorously, where you can grow intellectually, an institution that has been educating world changing leaders for over 800 years, and draws together the finest men across the globe. At Oxford, you have all the resources of the Oxford University at your fingertips, some of the finest libraries, academic departments, and research labs in the world.“Oxford is the pre-eminent research university that, when it does things, it does things at the very very highest level. And serious-research universities are places where the cleverest people on the planet think really hard about the hardest problems on the planet.”“I would say that the things that strike me the most about Oxford, what I do appreciate about it the most is that it taught me to think again. That the spirit in the air, of learning, of feeling like you are a part of a long legacy of centuries of academic excellence, and being around people also who reaffirm that.”As a student at the Oxford University, you become a member of an Oxford college, which contains a wealth of history and tradition. There are 39 different colleges in the university; each has its own academic fellowship and individual student community. The colleges have their own dining hall, library, cultural groups and sports teams. Your college will give you opportunity to meet other brilliant students from all areas of academic study, from astrophysicist to archeologist, from scientists to engineers. Oxford is an ancient and beautiful city; at the same time, it is modern and vibrant. Whenever things enclose proximity, you can cycle from pubs to parks and from museums to galleries. Oxford has excellent transport connections, and it is one hour from London and Heathrow Airport. Key to ExercisesExercise 1 Watching for DetailsStudents are asked to watch the video clip and fill in the blanks with the missing information.1) Oxford is the oldest university in the English-speaking world, a city that lives and breathes education, a place where you can think rigorously, where you can grow intellectually, an institution that has been educating world changing leaders for over 800 years, and draws together the finest men across the globe. At Oxford, you have all the resources of Oxford University at your fingertips, some of the finest libraries, academic departments, and research labs in the world.2) As a student at the Oxford University, you become a member of an Oxford College, which containsa wealth of history and tradition, the colleges have their own academic fellowship and individual student community. The College has its own dining hall, library, cultural groups and sports teams.3) Oxford has excellent transportation connections and it is one hour from London and Heathrow Airport.Exercise 2 Essay WritingThe well-respected higher education systems and the prestigious universities abroad attract Chinese young people to study overseas. Students are asked to write an essay entitled The Advantages and Disadvantages of Studying Abroad with no less than 160 words.SampleThe Advantages and Disadvantages of Studying Abroad In recent years, there has been a growing trend toward studying abroad among young people. When pursuing educational opportunities overseas is widely considered as a life-transforming opportunity, students should take on a number of challenges. Below are some specific advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad.Studying abroad allows one to gain a real knowledge of a new culture and a new language. By interacting and communicating with native speakers daily, students can enhance their foreign language skills. They will simultaneously explore the values and ways of life of the host country. For example, Asian students might be surprised to find that communication in Western countries is starkly open and straightforward, in sharp contrast to the intense use of non-verbal messages in communication in theirhome countries. Not surprisingly, even simple everyday experiences, such as buying food and mailing letter, can help improve language proficiency and promote culture learning. It gives students new perspectives on how things are done.During their overseas trips, many students will learn how to take care of themselves and live independently. They might have initial difficulties in fulfilling even the simplest tasks at the very beginning, such as grocery shopping, doing laundry, making living arrangements and setting accounts for electricity, but before long, they will adapt to the new environment and become self-sufficient. Moreover, by interacting with people from different backgrounds, overseas students can exercise and improve their social skills, an experience which is of great value to their careers later in life.While studying abroad has its advantages, it might have its drawbacks. Most of the students are lack of life experience when they first travel overseas. Failure to cope with the problems that arise from their everyday lives might cause frustration. They feel helpless, suffer homesick and in worse cases, have a breakdown.As suggested above, studying abroad poses both opportunities and challenges. While young people can become polyglots and independent individuals, gain opportunities for personal growth and develop an appreciation of cultural differences, they have to cope with the stress of living oversea. Task 2In task 2, students are asked to watch a video clip about the hall of residence in the University of Derby in the UK and then do the exercises as required. Before watching, students are supposed to read the words, expressions and cultural notes related to the video.TranscriptThe Hall of Residence in the University of DerbyLiving in halls is a great opportunity to socialize with hundreds of people from all over the country, and quite likely all over the world. At the University of Derby, every first year who wants a place can have a place in halls, you can apply online once you got an unconditional offer, and we guarantee a place to all first years who apply before the 31st August. The university has five city center halls in Derby, and all the halls are a short walk from the university sites. It is really easy to get around city and university buses link all the halls. The buses run regularly, and you are living in halls, you get vouchers for a number of free trips. Alternatively, if you want to bring your car or a bike, all the halls have car parks and bike sheds. Derby is a great city, with something on most nights: fantastic shopping at the New West Field Center, and a friendly and vibrant atmosphere. It is also close to places like the Peak National Park for walking, biking or climbing.Your room will most likely be one of four or six in a flat, you can choose from a standard room where you share a shower and toilet with your flat mates, and an En-suite room, or a premium en-suite room, with its own mini-fridge and the use of TV lounge for all the people in the flat. If you have specific health or medical issue, we can also provide you with the room specially-adapted for your needs. Each room has Internet access, and connection to the university network. A phone which comes with free internal calls and a TV aerial point. Your booking fee also covers contents insurance for your room.Hall staff is on hand 24 hours a day, and resident safety is our priority. There is CCTV on all sites and intercom systems in every flat to keep you safe and secure. Our staff has years of experience in dealing with all manner of welfare issues. So you can be sure that you are in safe hands. Living in halls is very good value for money, and compares favorably with private accommodation. Heating, lighting and hot water are all included; once you’ve paid your whole fees, all you have to budget for is food and going out. Cleaners come to your flat once a week, and cover the kitchen, shower, toilet and other shared areas. But your room is down to you. Each hall has a coin-operated laundry, containinglarge washers and dryers, so there is no excuse to take washing home at the weekends.Every hall also has its own common room, where you can relax and socialize away from your room. These contain wide-screen TVs and DVD players, pool tables and other entertainment. As well as studying, living in halls is also about community, and having time to socialize. The halls run all sorts of activities, and helps you get to know your neighbors better, and make new friends. There are events, such as pool competitions, barbecues and quizzes; and on the first weekend, a welcome-to- halls party. Your time in hall should be a great experience and one that you will never forget. We are here to support you along the way.Key to ExercisesExercise 1 Making a Sound JudgmentStudents are asked to watch the short video and decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F).F 1) Every student who applies for the university can be guaranteed a place in the hall of residence. T 2) The buses that link the halls are free of charge.T 3) Specially-adapted rooms are provided to the students with health or medical issue.T 4) Each room in the hall of residence has Internet access to the university network.F 5) You can relax and enjoy yourself in your room which contains a lot of recreational facilities,such as wide-screen TV and DVD players.Exercise 2 Watching for DetailsStudents are asked to watch the short video again and choose the best answers to the questions.1) B2) C3) BPart II Listening ActivitiesIn this part, students will have 3 listening tasks to accomplish.Task 1In task 1, students will listen to an introduction about Freshers’ Week at university and then do the exercises as required. Before listening, students are supposed to read the words and expressions related to the talk.TranscriptFreshers’ WeekFreshers’ Week at universities can be a nerve-wracking experience.The UK has a well-respected higher education system and some of the top universities and research institutions in the world. But to those who are new to it all, it can be overwhelming and sometimes confusing.October is usually the busiest month in the academic calendar. Universities have something called Freshers’ Week for their newcomers. It’s a great opportunity to make new friends, join lots ofclubs and settle into university life.However, having just left the comfort of home and all your friends behind, the prospect of meeting lots of strangers in big halls can be nerve-wracking. Where do you start? Who should you make friends with? Which clubs should you join?Luckily, there will be thousands of others in the same boat as you worrying about starting their university social life on the right foot. So just take it all in slowly. Don’t rush into anything that you’ll regret for the next three years.Here are some top tips from past students on how to survive Freshers’Week:●Blend in. Make sure you are aware of British social etiquette. Have a few wine glasses andsnacks handy for your housemates and friends.●Be hospitable. Sometimes cups of tea or even slices of toast can give you a head start inmaking friends.●Be sociable. The more active you are, t he more likely you’ll be to meet new people than ifyou’re someone who never leaves their room.●Bring a doorstop. Keep your door open when you’re in and that sends positive messages toyour neighbors that you’re friendly.So with a bit of clever planning and motivation, Freshers’Week can give you a great start to your university life and soon you’ll be passing on your wisdom to next year’s new recruits.(From /china/learningenglish/onthetown/re/2008/03/080327_oxford_uni.shtml) Key to ExercisesExercise 1 Making a Sound JudgmentStudents are asked to listen to the task and decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F).T 1) Although UK has the excellent education system and some top universities, the newcomers still feel confused sometimes.F 2) The newcomers tend to feel very excited and happy in Freshers’ Week.T 3) It is a great opportunity to make new friends to join many clubs in Freshers’ Week.F 4) Every freshman feels very comfortable in making new friends and joining clubs.Exercise 2 Listening for DetailsStudents are asked to listen to the talk again and fill in the blanks with the missing information.Tips on How to Survive Freshers’ Week●Blend in. Make sure you are aware of British etiquette. Have a few wine and snacks handy foryour housemates and friends.●Be _hospitable. Sometimes cups of tea or even slices of toast can give you a head start in makingfriends.●Be sociable. The more active you are, the more likely you’ll be to m eet new people.●Bring a doorstop. Keep your door open when you are in and that sends positive messages to yourneighbors that you’re friendly.Task 2Students will listen to a conversation between a teacher and a student, and then do the exercises as required. Before listening, students are supposed to read the words and expressions related to the dialogue.TranscriptA Dialogue between a Teacher and a StudentDr Richardson: Enter, please.David Simons: Good afternoon, Dr Richardson.Dr Richardson: Good afternoon. You’re David Simons, is that right?David Simons: Yes. I’ve an appointment to talk about the course requirements with you.Dr Richardson: Fine. Now why don’t you take a seat over there and I’ll just get some details from you. First, can I have your home address and your student number?David Simons: That’s 15 Market Avenue, Hornsby and my student number is C97H85.Dr Richardson:OK. Now I see here that you’ve already completed 18 credit points, but that you haven’t done the Screen Studies course which is normally a prerequisite for this course. Why is that, David?David Simons: Oh, the course coordinator gave me an exemption because I’ve worked for a couple of years in the movie and television business and they considered my practical experience fulfilled the same requirements.Dr Richardson: Fine. Shall we go over the course requirements first, and then you can bring up any queries or problems you might have. It might be most useful to start with a few dates. The final examination will be in the last week of June, that’s the week of the 23rd. but the final date hasn’t been set. It should be the 25th or the 20th, but you don’t have to worry about that yet. Before that, as you can see in your study guide, there are three essay assignments and some set exercises. I’ll deal with these first. These set exercises are concerned with defining concepts and key terms.They do have fixed answers not in the wording but in the content. To that extent they are quite mechanical, and provide an opportunity for you to do very well as long as your answers are very specific and clear.David Simons: Yes, I see there are about twenty terms here. How long should the answers be?Dr Richarson: You shouldn’t exceed 250 words for each term.David Simons: Right. That looks easy enough. And the third assignment seems fairly straightforward too. Just a journalistic type review of a recent development in television. It’s not so different from what I’ve done in my work.Dr Richarson: Yes, it should be fairly easy for you, but don’t exceed 1,000 words on that one. Essays1 and2 are the long ones. The first essay should be about 2,000 words and the second 2,500 to3,000, and the approach for both should be analytical. In the first one, your focus should be on TV and the audience, and you should primarily consider the theoretical issues, particularly in relation to trying to understand audience studies. In the second, I’ll want you to focus on analyzing television programs.David Simons: Should I concentrate on one particular type of program for that?Dr Richarson: Not necessarily. But you must be careful not to overextend yourself here. A comparison between two programs or even between two channels is fine, or a focus on one type of program, such as a particular series, works well here.David Simons: So if I wanted to look at television news programs, that would be OK?Dr Richarson: Yes, there would be no problem with that. In fact it’s quite a popular choice, and most students handle it very well.David Simons: Good. I’ll probably do that, because it’s the area I want to work in later.Key to ExercisesExercise 1 Listening for Global UnderstandingStudents are asked to listen to the conversation and choose the best answers to the questions.1) D2) B3) DExercise 2 Listening for DetailsStudents are asked to listen to the conversation again and draw lines to match the assignments with their descriptions.Assignment set exercise assignment1 assignment2 assignment3 Description mechanical theoretical analytical journalisticAdditional ListeningIn this section, students will listen to a lecture given by a counselor about the campus facilities and then do the exercises as required. Before listening, students are supposed to read the words and expressions related to the lecture.TranscriptCampus FacilitiesHi, I am your counselor for this year. Today we will visit the facilities available to you on our campus. As students, you should take advantage of everything you have available to you.How many of you like sports? Well, I hope most of you do, because our school has great sports facilities. We have an indoor gym with state of the art equipment. First I want to tell you about our basketball facilities. There are 2 basketball courts, both are full court and open for student use. We offer basketball leagues that all students are invited to join, just sign up with a team. Usually there are games on the courts, but during the league time, only the teams are allowed to use the courts. The basketball courts are open 24 hours a day. If you want a job, you can be a referee at the games.Next, I want to tell you about the tennis facilities. We have 5 tennis courts available for student use. The tennis courts are open everyday 8 am until 10 in the evening. You should call ahead to reserve a court, because they are very popular and can often be booked weeks in advance. There are rackets and balls available for rent at the front desk of the courts.There is an Olympic size swimming pool that is open for students and the general public. There are also showers and locker rooms available. The swimming pool is open everyday 9 am until 7 in the evening. There are openings for the position of lifeguards, so if you are looking for a job in the sun, this might be good for you.There are also 2 weight rooms and a gymnastics room. The weight rooms have all the standard equipment available. Please check with the gym to see the open hours, because they vary from time to time. The gymnastics room is usually not open for individual users because there are almost always classes held in the room. However, if you are interested, you may sign up for gymnastics classes. Plus if you like martial arts and boxing, we offer classes for everyone, from beginners to advanced students. Please check the schedule for availability. There is everything available from Chinese Wushu to Brazilian wrestling.I will talk for a brief moment about our library system. Our campus has 3 libraries available to undergraduate students, one additional graduate library, and one faculty library. The libraries are opendaily until midnight, except for during testing periods, when the libraries will be open 24 hours. Please look on a map to see where the libraries are located. All students with a valid ID can check out books, with a maximum of 10 books at a time. Books can be checked out for a 2 weeks period, and then renewed for a one month maximum. After that, there is a 1$ fine per week that the book is overdue. I will repeat that…There is a hefty one dollar fine per week! So it is a good idea to return books on time. If you lose a book, then you will have to repay the library for it, plus a fine. If you damage a book, most likely you will have to repay the value of the book. So please, enjoy the library facilities, but take care of the school’s belongings. The library is also equipped with 200 computers for student use. They are all internet ready and available for use. You must sign up at the library for 1 hour timeslots. You may sign up for up to 3 consecutive slots at a time. No one can use the computers without first signing in at the library.That is it for now. Thank you for your attention.ExercisesExercise 1 Listening for DetailsStudents are asked to listen to the talk and answer the following questions.1) How many hours are the basketball courts open each day?The basketball counters are open 24 hours a day.2) What kind of job do the basketball courts offer?The basketball counts offer the position of referrees at games.3) How many tennis courts are available for students?There are five tennis courts available for students.4) What kind of job does the swimming pool offer?The swimming pool offers the position of lifeguards.5) What should you do if you are interested in gymnastics?You may sign up for gymnastics classes.Exercise 2 Listening for Specific InformationStudents are asked to listen to the talk again and fill in the blanks with the missing information.Part III Oral PracticeIn this part, students will have 3 tasks to accomplish.Task 1 Casual TalkStudents are supposed to choose one of the topics to discuss their definition in detail with the help of the words in the following Information Box. They may do it either in pairs or in groups.My definition of a good…Reference AnswerIn my opinion, a good university should create a most beautiful academic setting where the historic architecture and the inviting green spaces are integrated together. Students can be able to really breathe in the atmosphere. A good university should be dedicated to helping students think smart as they build their academic, personal and career success. I think the key ingredients of a good education include a capable faculty, and strong academic programs. A good university should balance its educational program and close attention to student needs with a progressive look to the future to meet the needs of changing society. In addition to the beautiful campus and the prestigious academic strength, students should enjoy excellent accommodations that help define the university experience. Moreover, a good university should boast attractive and abundant resources and facilities, which support students to enjoy and experience the high-quality academic program, and colorful social life at the same time.Additional Information:Facultylecturer 讲师tutor 助教，导师assistant professor 助理教授associate professor 副教授coordinator 课程协调老师liaison officer 校联络departmental head/chairperson 系主任dean （大学学院）院长chancellor/university president（大学）校长headmaster （中小学）校长school counselor/adviser 指导老师Degreesdiploma 文凭，毕业证书degree 学位Bachelor 学士学位Master 硕士学位Doctorate 博士头衔B.A./Bachelor of Arts 文学学士学位B.S./Bachelor of Science 理学学士学位M.A./Master of Arts 文学硕士学位M.S./Master of Science 理学硕士学位M.D./Doctor of Medicine 医学博士Ph.D./Doctor of Philosophy 博士Postdoctoral 博士后（研究人员）honorary degree 荣誉学位Coursesbasic course 基础课specialized course 专业课compulsory/required course 必修课optional/selective course 选修课literature 文学philosophy 哲学history 历史art 艺术sociology 社会学linguistic 语言学psychology 心理学engineering 工程学architecture 建筑学business 商务law 法学economics 经济学finance 金融学accounting 会计学banking 银行学biochemistry 生物化学Facilitiesdivision/departments 系campus 校园common room 公共休息室canteen 食堂dining hall 食堂cafeteria 自助餐厅accommodation 住宿parking lot 停车场shopping mall 购物中心teaching building 教学楼lecture theatre 阶梯教室administration/admin office 管理/行政办公室laboratory/lab 实验室student union 学生会auditorium 会堂，礼堂gymnasium/gym 体育馆playground 操场locker room 更衣室library 图书馆recreation room 娱乐室Task 2 Group WorkStudents are asked to redesign and redecorate the apartment they have just rented.Teaching StrategyStep 1Divide the class into pairs and ask them to share the two-bedroom apartment.Step 2Ask the students to think of the things they want to put in the apartment and where they’d like to put themStep 3Let the students begin the discussion and reach an agreement.Step 4Ask the students to draw the layout of their apartment and present it to the class.Task 3 Problem SolvingFresher’s Week at universities can be a nerve-wracking experience. Students are asked to identify the problems they might encounter at university and come up with solutions to them.Teaching StrategyStep 1List the categories of problems that students may encounter at university on the board. Such as, study, financial problem, relations with others, etc.Step 2Divide the class into groups of four. Assign each group a specific category for discussion. Each group, with the help of the related words and phrases, is required to list in detail the problems relevant to the category given to them and tries hard to offer advice or solutions to these problems.Step 3Draw the chart on the board. 10-15 minutes later, ask each group to report what they have discussed.。
